Decoupling inventory is a type of safety stock in a manufacturing process. It is used to separate the inventory stocks for each step in the manufacturing process. It aims to remove any bottlenecks due to shortage or any other reason.
Decoupling inventory refers to safety stocks of inventory that cover any turbulence due to internal factors. It can be used to save time and costs for a manufacturing company. It also helps a company to overcome any disruptions in the demand-supply lines.
What is Decoupling Inventory?
Decoupling inventory is the process of separating inventory for contingency planning. It is part of the inventory that is set aside and used to protect a manufacturing line against any disruptions.
A production line can use several parts in assembling the finished product. A delay or shortage of a component can halt the production process completely. It aims to remove such frictions and helps keeps the production line run smoothly.
How Does Decoupling Inventory Work?
In an ideal world, machines run perfectly and there are no downtimes. However, real-world disruptions can cause machines to go out of order for any reason. Similarly, all machines do not operate at a similar pace. Hence, production lines would require a different number of components at each stage.
It aims to protect a manufacturing line against any such distortions. It is used to cover any shortages of inventory due to internal factors though. These internal factors can include inventory mismanagement, errors, machine break-downs, repairs, and maintenance, etc.
It would require setting up a manufacturing process station-wise. The production line goes through different stations and components are supplied to these components separately. Additional stocks of inventory are held for each critical station so that the whole process runs smoothly.
This method aims to facilitate the production process. It provides critical aid to the manufacturing facility to avoid any lost time. A delayed production process can cause additional costs such as idle labor and machinery downtime. It affects the efficiency of a manufacturing facility. It is used to overcome such issues that arise mainly due to internal factors.
Production can also get affected due to external factors such as delays from suppliers, transportation issues, delivery issues, and so on. Although it is aimed to provide assistance due to internal factors, it helps to overcome such external factors as well.
Special Considerations with Decoupling Inventory
Having a cushion of safety in a production line is always the desired goal. However, inventory management for excessive inventory can incur additional costs. Also, a manufacturing facility cannot keep components for long as they change in quality and variety over time quickly.
It is also different from other types of buffer stock types with similar characteristics though.
Decoupling Inventory Vs Pipeline Inventory
Pipeline inventory refers to components of the manufacturing process that are yet to arrive at the final destination. It refers to the external inventory in transit from the suppliers. Long route supplies can take several weeks or months to reach the final destination. Thus, decoupling inventory can be used to cover such shortages as well.
Decoupling Inventory Vs Safety Stock
Safety stocks and decoupling inventory are both held for contingency planning. The only difference between the two is the reason for any such incident. It is used to cover internal factors whereas safety stock is held to cover any external factors.
Decoupling Inventory Vs Cycle Stock
Cycle stock is aimed to cover stocks for particular production cycles. It can cover the time between orders and can be predicted based on historic orders. It is easier to predict than decoupling inventory though.
Advantages of Using Decoupling Inventory
Decoupling inventory provides several benefits to a manufacturing facility. It is aimed to assist in hardships and disruptions due to internal factors.
Here are some key advantages of using decoupling inventory.
- Decoupling inventory helps you to overcome internal production issues without delays such as a shortage of a particular component in inventory.
- It helps overcome external factors such as supplier delays as well.
- It can help a business to cover the additional demands for a product.
- The method also helps a manufacturing facility to conduct maintenance activities and repairs without affecting the whole system.
- This method can eliminate production inefficiencies and improve the workflow.
Disadvantages of Using Decoupling Inventory
Using decoupling inventory comes with certain benefits. However, it also offers some disadvantages.
- It increases the inventory costs significantly.
- It may not suffice the shortage caused due to external factors such as supplier delays.
- For a rapidly changing production environment, keeping decoupling inventory for several components can be difficult to sustain.
Conclusion
Decoupling inventory is used to provide a buffer against internal disruptions in the manufacturing process. It can help a company run the production process smoothly. However, it incurs additional costs and can become difficult to achieve.
